John P. Zytko, Set Designer, Artist

OBITUARIES

December 17, 1992

JOHN P. ZYTKO, a designer noted for his lavishly detailed theater sets, died Sunday of heart failure. He was 28.

Mr. Zytko, who had lived in Orlando for the past two years, designed the New Orleans street set for the recent Civic Theatre of Central Florida production of A Streetcar Named Desire, as well as sets for such other Civic productions as Singin' in the Rain, Cotton Patch Gospel, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Only Kidding.

''He had a very strong vision of what the play needed to look like,'' said Michael Fortner, the Civic's artistic director.

''John had a really great eye for detail. He worked very long and hard and studied the set very carefully. He was always very proud of his role as a designer.''

Also an artist, actor and model, Mr. Zytko had worked as assistant art director for the Orlando unit of the movie Lethal Weapon 3 and had founded his own art direction and production company, Creative Reality.

Before he moved to Central Florida, he had designed sets for several productions in Fort Lauderdale, including Nine for the Ann White Theatre, Pippin for the Vinnette Carroll Theatre and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for the Public Theatre of Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Born in New Jersey, he moved to Florida in 1972 and was a graduate of the University of Florida.

He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth, of Boca Raton; a sister, Regina, of Burlington, Vermont; and a brother, Peter, of Delray Beach.

The family will receive visitors from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Babione Funeral Home, 1100 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday.

A memorial service also will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at 2813 Northwood Blvd., Orlando.

In place of flowers, contributions may be made to CENTAUR, 1235 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, Fla. 32806, or Hope and Health, 1815 E. Robinson St., Orlando, Fla. 32802.